25 April - Roman 2

Today we’re reading Romans 2 in the Tattoo Church Reading Plan. Here are a few thoughts:

1. Paul opens with saying we shouldn’t judge others because we are all guilty of something. Only God can judge us because he judges from a pure perspective wanting only our best interest. 
2. He goes on to say that if you judge others, while you are also guilty of wrong, you’re storing up wrath from God against yourself. 
3. Paul talks a lot about “law” in this chapter. He is referring to the over 600 laws the Jewish people lived by. The Jewish people in that time had a big problem with pride because God had given them his law and they thought it meant he only wanted a relationship with them. Paul tells them here that just because they have the law doesn’t mean they’re in a right standing with God. In fact, if they have the law but don’t obey it; it’s just like not having the law at all. On the other side of the coin, the people who don’t have the law (the Gentiles which is all non-jews) but unknowingly live a life that obeys the law; for them it’s like they’ve been given the law as well. This would have been a huge slap in the face to the people Paul was talking to. Paul is saying we all have something inside of us that naturally knows some things are right and others wrong.
4. Paul challenges them to live out what they teach. He goes on to say that since they don’t practice what they tell others to do, God’s name is blasphemed because they live like hypocrites.
5. Paul ends by talking about circumcision. Kind of weird way to end a chapter right? Circumcision was an outward sign God had given to the Jewish people to indicate their relationship with him and they considered it almost like a badge of honor (again very weird). Paul says circumcision is about the heart; it’s not just an outward thing they did but it should be an inward thing. Paul said a person is not in a relationship with God just because they look like one on the outside; it must also be in our heart.

In this chapter Paul was talking to Jewish people in Rome. However, these words are certainly for us today. For too long people who say they follow Jesus have been known for what they are against rather than what they are for. What if instead of judging others (as we read today is clearly wrong) we lived lives that focused on loving God and loving other people? Maybe then the opinion people have of Christians would change. They would see the love of God in our life and be drawn to that.

Are you quick to judge other people? If so, when we take a hard look at ourselves it sobers us to see we are in no position to judge others. We need to live a life where we lead with love and grace. How can you show someone love this week? In what ways can you lead with grace?